Grade: First

Month: September/October


Main Concept

  1. My Family and Other Families
  2. History of My Family


Guiding Questions

  • What is a family?
  • Who is in your family?
  • What is a role?
  • What is a role that you have in your family?
  • What is culture?
  • How do people use language to communicate?
  • What is religion?
  • What are celebrations from other cultures?
  • What are holidays from other cultures?
  • What American celebrations do we all share?


Theme/Content Skills

  • Identity
  • Culture
  • Interdependence
  • Change

1.My Family and Other Families
  • Families and different kinds of families exist in all communities and societies though they may differ
  • Families have beliefs, customs and traditions.
  • Families have roles and responsibilities
  • Families are interdependent
  • Families lived in other places and at different times.

2. History of My Family
  • Families have a past and they change over time; my family timeline illustrates my family's history
  • Some family beliefs, customs and traditions are based on family histories.
  • People of diverse racial, religious, national and ethnic groups transmit their beliefs, customs and traditions.
  • Folktales, biographies, oral histories and legends relate family histories.

Key Terms

  • Family
  • Role
  • Culture
  • Religion
  • Customs
  • Celebration
  • Holiday
  • Language
  • Needs
  • Shelter


Holidays

  • Grandparent's Day
  • Columbus Day

Student Outcomes

  • Students will state who is in their family
  • Students will state family's belief, customs and/or traditions
  • Students will create a family timeline that illustrates their family's history to show how they change over time
  • Students will state roles in their family
  • Students will illustrate their family's history
  • Students will show that some family beliefs, customs and/or traditions are based on family histories
  • Students will understand that there are similarities and differences between families
  • Students will recognize holidays and celebrations as a way of preserving a family's cultures


Assessment/Project

  • Family Timeline
  • Families Hanging Around - Students draw a picture of all family members on poster board to cut out and hang with string on a hanger to make a family mobile
  • Family Flags - Create a flag shape from poster board - students draw a picture of all family members and label who they are on top - then they will write 1 sentence on bottom explaining what makes their family great
  • Family Reflections - Cover a sturdy paper plate with aluminum foil (to resemble a mirror) - give students a cupcake liner for each member of their family - have students write a family member's name on each cupcake liner and a sentence on how that person influences their life ("Mom teaches me to bake.") - after writing have students glue the liners around the edge of their plate.
  • Recipe Roundup - Create a class recipe book - have students bring in a favorite family recipe

Resources for Students

  • www.starfall.com - Learn to Read - My Family (Story #`15)
  • www.readinga-z.com - My Family (Level aa) All Kinds of Families (Level E) Families (Level I)
  • Variety of children books about families (some Mercer Mayer books: Just My Mom and I) - to be updated
  • www.brainpopjr.com - Social Studies - Winter Holidays (for discussion of different family holidays)


Resources for Teachers

  • Harcourt Brace Teacher's Edition: About My World - Unit 4
    • Preview the Vocabulary Section (p.130-131)
  • www.abcteach.com (free section) - Theme Units - Family (people flashcards and family word search)
  • Where We've Been! - Free from Scholastic website to send home to learn about important family places
  • My Family Tree - My Family Tree Worksheet
  • How to Make a Family Tree - How to make a family tree in the first grade

Field Trip Suggestions

  • *None for this unit (Possibly have a family member of students come in to share family recipes)